Installing Skylights

When I built my house I wanted a house with a hip roof so I wouldn’t have to climb those high gable ends to paint it. It turned out great and painting it is much easier than a gable end house. However, the finished house had a very large attic, nearly forty feet long and thirty five feet wide. It seemed such a waste to just leave it as unused space. But I didn’t want to finish it with a dormer either to accommodate windows so I resorted to installing skylights, a moderately easy DIY task.

Installing skylights, often referred to as roof windows, is an economical way to turn attic space into living space with plenty of light. After putting in five foot knee walls the finished attic turned into living space measures 25 feet by 28 feet in addition to closet space and a bathroom. In one end is a large bathroom with two closets and the other end I installed two more large closets. The rest of the space is one very large general purpose room. It certainly is a bonus room as it is living space that we never planned for.

Installing skylights is a moderately easy DIY project. If you are using a narrow (14 inch wide skylight) it will fit between the roof rafters without any major structural changes. If you are using larger skylights then some alterations to the roof rafters will be necessary. To accommodate a large skylight simply cut a section of the roof rafter out to the rough opening size of the skylight and box the hole in with a header at the bottom and the top of the opening. The skylight simply sets into the hole and attaches to the underside of the roof with mounting brackets. The outside of the skylight is flashed to the roof shingles.

 Skylights can also be used in homes that have cathedral ceilings in the same way they are used in attics. They add a lot of character and can scatter sunbeams into a dreary kitchen, and brighten dark bathrooms. They reduce the need for electric lights, increase ventilation and increase warmth during the winter months.

Skylights come in different styles, either plastic or glass, fixed or operable, and made in any number of sizes. When selecting skylights get the proper size for the room and the appropriate features to meet your needs is important. Most home building supply centers carry a whole range of skylights and can offer assistance and advice in their installation.